=Rodgers' Quarters=
=Starbase UNITY=
=Starbase UNITY=
Rachel sat quietly in her room on her bed, holding Nicky, her
teddy bear. Her daddy had checked up on her about every
15 minutes or so. She had never been in this kind of trouble
before, so she was worried.
She didn't mean to hit the boy. She really didn't. But he made
her soooo mad. So, she gripped her hand into a fist and slung
it at him, connecting with his left eye.
At that moment, she knew she did something wrong. All of the
other kids just stared at her in a state of shock. Then the boy
started crying. That's when Mrs. Collinsworth walked over and
learned what had happened.
And that's when Rachel started crying. Her hand hurt a little,
but that wasn't the reason. She didn't what to hurt the boy.
She didn't want to hurt anyone. And now, she was in trouble
for something she didn't want to do.
She heard some voices out in the main living area. She got up
out of bed and snuck a peak out of the door. Mommy was home
and she and daddy were talking. Rachel couldn't make out what
was being said, but she knew it was about her.
Mommy would look back at the door to Rachel's room a couple
of times. When they finished talking and mommy started toward
her room, Rachel moved quickly from the door and back onto
the bed.
Mai walked in and sat on the edge of her daughter's bed trying
not to look disappointed. She smiled a bit hoping it would at least
ease the butterflies that must be flying about in her daughter's
tummy. No one waned to find out that their child was in a physical
altercation with another child. On the other hand of learning that it
was a boy Mai wanted to yell, "That's my girl!", but knew it would
inappropriate and wouldn't solve matters, so she just kept it to
herself thinking how to settle the current situation.
"Do you think I'm angry with you?" Mai wanted her daughter's
opinion. She knew Rick was probably waiting outside the room
waiting for the right moment to bust in.
opinion. She knew Rick was probably waiting outside the room
waiting for the right moment to bust in.
Rachel nodded not wanting to look her mother in the face and
admit everything just yet.
admit everything just yet.
"I'm not angry at all," Mai held her arms open as Rachel climbed
into her lap to take a seat.
into her lap to take a seat.
"I didn't mean to hit him," Rachel said, looking up at Mai. "I really
didn't. He just made me mad."
"I understand, babe. Everyone does things they don't mean when
they're mad..." Mai was thinking of a time she had gone off at Rick
because she had a short fuse that day when he was just trying to
be helpful.
didn't. He just made me mad."
"I understand, babe. Everyone does things they don't mean when
they're mad..." Mai was thinking of a time she had gone off at Rick
because she had a short fuse that day when he was just trying to
be helpful.
"That still doesn't mean we should hit. Violence doesn't solve
anything. You should use your words. Did you tell that boy what he
was saying wasn't right for him to say and that he was hurting you in
front of everyone?" Mai hoped she was doing well so far. Parenting
was becoming to come into full view for her now.
anything. You should use your words. Did you tell that boy what he
was saying wasn't right for him to say and that he was hurting you in
front of everyone?" Mai hoped she was doing well so far. Parenting
was becoming to come into full view for her now.
"I told him to stop. I did," Rachel's eyes widened. "I asked him a
couple of times. I really did. But he wouldn't. He was just mean."
Mai was thinking of asking if Rachel had gotten an adult, but wasn't
couple of times. I really did. But he wouldn't. He was just mean."
Mai was thinking of asking if Rachel had gotten an adult, but wasn't
sure how to go about that at all.
At that point, Rick entered the room, but remained standing next
to the door.
"Daddy had me apolo ... apologize. I felt bad about what happened.
I'm never going to hit anybody again."
"Well, that's good,"Mai sounded more relieved. It was really hard for
MaiKai to deal with so much stress and pressures especially now.
Rick finally walked up to the bed and knelt down next to Mai.
"Ray, we know you understand what you did was wrong," Rick said.
"That's why we have decided not to ground you. Instead, you will
not get any dessert tonight and tomorrow night. OK?"
The child nodded.
{ whew...} Mai thought as she grabbed on to her daughter to give her a kiss good night. Rick followed after his wife and also helped to tuck their daughter in. They both felt better knowing Rachel would sleep better after their decision not to ground her.
= End Log =
Commander Rick Rodgers
Engineering Officer
Starbase UNITY
&
Lieutenant Commander MaiKai Rodgers
Pediatrics Doctor
Starbase UNITY
Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make dinner for $10 or less.
